Best of Vietnam

Arrive at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Our partner hotels are centrally located with a cosy, boutique vibe, specially selected to be comfortable and convenient for you to simply walk out the doors and begin exploring the neighbourhood.

Spend a wonderful full day exploring the stories behind the charming capital of Vietnam. Delve into the city’s ancient history with visits to the imperial Citadel, the apex of regional political power for more than a millennium, and the 11th century Temple of Literature, built as an homage to the Chinese scholar Confucius.

Enjoy a pedal-powered cyclo ride through some of the Old Quarter’s 36 guild streets named after the products originally crafted and sold in their shops.

Best of Vietnam Hanoi
Spend a wonderful full day exploring the stories behind the charming capital of Vietnam. Delve into the city’s ancient history with visits to the imperial Citadel, the apex of regional political power for more than a millennium, and the 11th century Temple of Literature, built as an homage to the Chinese scholar Confucius.

Enjoy a pedal-powered cyclo ride through some of the Old Quarter’s 36 guild streets named after the products originally crafted and sold in their shops.

Explore the city’s more modern history, taking in the iconic Long Bien Bridge built across the Red River by the French between 1899 and 1902, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a can’t-miss Hanoi attraction dedicated to the beloved leader who led Vietnam’s campaign for independence from French colonial rule.

End the day with a strong Vietnamese coffee in a café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, a photogenic setting that figures into countless Vietnamese folktales. Return to your hotel at around 4:30 pm.

Please note:
• Estimated pick-up time: 8:00 am (Tour duration: 8 hours)
• The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed in the afternoons, and on Mondays and Fridays.
• From September – November the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed for annual renovation. The tour will instead visit the Presidential Palace and the Resident of the complex .
• The Long Bien Bridge has uneven surfaces that may not be suitable for all clients. Alternative touring can be arranged on request.

After breakfast, travel approximately 180 km to beautiful Halong Bay by private vehicle.

[Optional] From the Tuan Chau Island Marina, take an unforgettable 25-minute scenic sightseeing flight for bird’s eye views of the highlights of this UNESCO-listed World Heritage Centre. Fly over the spectacular seascape of some 1,600 islands and islets, most untouched by humans and marked by towering limestone pillars rising out of the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Best of Vietnam halong bay seaplane
At noon, check in to your cabin aboard the Emeraude, a boutique sailing vessel modelled after a turn-of-the-century paddle steamer. Enjoy a superb buffet lunch in the stylish restaurant that recalls the Golden Age of Travel with dark woods, vintage photographs, and elegant table settings.

The rest of the day is a pleasing mix of relaxation and exploration with shore excursions to visit Surprise Cave, the largest and most spectacular in the bay, and Titov Island where you can climb the hill for 360-degree views or swim on the golden sand beach.

ACCOMMODATION

Best of Vietnam Accommodation
EMERAUDE CLASSIC CRUISE

Best of Vietnam halong bay
EMERAUDE CLASSIC CRUISE

The afternoon’s activities also include crepes on the sundeck, a cooking demonstration and time to watch the ever-changing scenery of glorious Halong Bay glide on by. A delicious BBQ dinner is served in the restaurant, followed by a movie.

You are invited to wake up with the sun and participate in one of the most scenic Tai Chi sessions you’ll ever encounter on the sundeck of the Emeraude.

Enjoy pastries and a morning cup of coffee or tea with the glittering islands of Halong Bay as a backdrop before visiting a pearl farm or kayaking around the islands. After checking out of your cabin, sit down to a final brunch at the restaurant as the ship cruises through the bay.

Best of Vietnam halong bay
Disembark at the Emeraude Cafe just before noon with private transfer back to Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport in time for your late afternoon flight to Danang International Airport.

Transfer approximately 30 km to Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa, an elegant 109-room boutique hotel situated directly on Cua Dai Beach and backed by the river.

Begin your tour of Hoi An, a former trading port that welcomed Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese, and Arab merchants between the 16th to 18th centuries. Today, Hoi An is famous for its restored architecture, handmade silk, expert tailors, and delicious regional cuisine.

Best of Vietnam hoi an
Explore this ultimately photogenic town on a walking tour taking in several famous landmarks including the Chua Ong Pagoda which dates back to 1653; the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall and Jinshang Temple, built by Chinese settlers; the 200-year-old Tan Ky House showcasing the architecture of the time; and the iconic 17th century Japanese covered bridge. End with a scenic boat trip along tranquil Thu Bon River that winds its way through the town.

Please note:
•Estimated pick-up time: Between 8:00-8:30 am or 1:00-1:30pm
•Tour duration: 4 hours

Founded in 1919 by French colonists as a leisure resort destination, the cool Ba Na Hills retain much of their colonial atmosphere. Travel back in time immersing yourself in the charms of this idyllic hill station, starting with a cable car ride to the top of the mist-covered summit, taking in views of the magnificent Linh Ung Pagoda and a giant Buddha statue.

At the top, visit the colourful flower garden at the Le Jardin D’Amour and the stunning 150m-long Golden Bridge, held up by giant moss-covered hands. Imagine life as it was a hundred years ago at an old French village set in the middle of the distinctively Vietnamese mountains.

After a traditional Vietnamese lunch, spend the afternoon at your leisure, perhaps at the fantasy park with over 100 games for children and adults or simply strolling around the beautiful surroundings.

Please note:
•Estimated pick-up time: 8:00 am
•Tour duration: 8 hours
•A hat / umbrella is recommended, especially during rainy season and against sun / high temperatures during dry season.

After a leisurely buffet breakfast featuring French pastries, freshly squeezed juices and iced Vietnamese coffee, transfer to the Danang International Airport for the short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon), Vietnam’s vibrant economic and entertainment hub.

Check in to our partner hotel, situated in a prime location in Ho Chi Minh City, with easy access to famous city attractions, restaurants and shopping areas.

Best of Vietnam saigon
After a leisurely buffet breakfast featuring French pastries, freshly squeezed juices and iced Vietnamese coffee, transfer to the Danang International Airport for the short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon), Vietnam’s vibrant economic and entertainment hub.

Check in to our partner hotel, situated in a prime location in Ho Chi Minh City, with easy access to famous city attractions, restaurants and shopping areas.

In the late afternoon, explore Saigon’s amazing street food scene on a culinary walking tour. As Vietnam’s largest city, Saigon draws residents from all over the country who bring with them their favourite regional specialties, making Saigon one of the world’s best foodie destinations.

Come with an empty stomach and an adventurous spirit as you sample some of Vietnam’s best street foods including stuffed “banh mi” baguettes, flame-grilled barbecue skewers, tasty noodle dishes, Vietnamese sweet puddings and perhaps even a grilled rice paper “pizza” served at streetside stalls which pop up just in the evenings.

After breakfast, explore the past, present, and future of vibrant Ho Chi Minh City. Visit French colonial-era buildings from the late 19th and early 20th century including the lovely and still-operational Central Post Office. Stroll toward the Saigon River to the Saigon Opera House, a commanding building completed in 1901.

Learn about Vietnam’s modern history with a visit to the Reunification Palace where a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the gates in 1975 to end the American War, along with the War Remnants Museum, a sobering reminder of wartime hardships and atrocities.

End your private tour at the 68-story Bitexco Tower for bird’s eye views over New and Old Saigon, taking in panoramic vistas of the city’s skyscrapers adjacent to a nearby island which is largely undeveloped.

Please note:
•City tour estimated pick-up time: 8:00 am or 1:30 pm
•Tour duration: 4 hours

Break up your Southeast Asian trip with a few blissful days on the gorgeous beaches of Phan Thiet, just four hours from Ho Chi Minh City. Once a sleepy fishing village, Phan Thiet is now an alluring mix of quiet, palm-lined beaches and thrilling adventure sports, including kite surfing and ATV sand dune riding.

Arrive and check in at Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort & Spa, a collection of spacious bungalows set on 7ha of lush gardens with its own stretch of white sand beach with the rest of the day at your leisure.

Please note:
•Distance to Phan Thiet is approximately 210 km (4-5 hour drive)
•Driver may have limited English-speaking skills. Please contact our office number should you have any special requests while in transit.

Enjoy the day at your leisure, perhaps arranging a trip to toboggan down the nearby Red Sand Dunes or to dip your toes in the Fairy Stream.

Enjoy the day at your leisure, perhaps arranging a trip to toboggan down the nearby Red Sand Dunes or to dip your toes in the Fairy Stream.

Enjoy a final breakfast in Phan Thiet before making your way back to Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your onward travels.

Please note:
•Distance to Ho Chi Minh City is approximately 210 km (4-5 hour drive)
•Driver may have limited English-speaking skills. Please contact our office number should you have any special requests while in transit.